Berry Hill Food Company

Brunch is a long weekend requirement. As we are back from a long weekend visit with my family, it is time to share Sunday Brunch with you. We went to Berry Hill Food Company in downtown Oshawa, mostly because it is one of the few places I haven't been yet in my hometown. Actually, I am sure there are many, but it looked like it would be good. I scoped out the eggs Benedict options, and went for the Beef Tenderloin. At $16, I was expecting perfectly tender beef with creamy Hollandaise sauce. I was extremely disappointed - the beef was chewy, the Hollandaise was thin and there wasn't very much of it. The eggs were fine, but I have had better of every component. The potatoes were over-salted, but tasty. I really was filled with regret, wondering how good other menu items might have been, and why I made this choice.

Beef Tenderloin Eggs Benedict with sauteed garlic mushrooms

Scott was after more quantity, and ordered the Full Mounty. He enjoyed it, and I had some of that sausage, it was good. Nothing exceptional, again for $15 I would hope for more delight.

The Full Mounty - Canadian peameal, English sausage, 2 eggs, strip bacon, grilled tomato, baked beans, BH potatoes & toast

We left feeling overcharged and unimpressed. Looking for a great spot in Oshawa, we will have to keep looking. It seemed like there was so much potential, so maybe by ordering different things we might have been more on board. I do really want to say nice things... the service was good!

Likes: The coffee was served in a huge cup.

Dislikes: The food and prices weren't great.

Food: 3/5

Service: 4/5

Would I go again?: Probably not.

Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, so I decided to do some baking before Scott got home from feeding other happy couples. His mom got us a calendar for Christmas that includes recipes each month - February's being for sugar cookies. Turns out, you can order the recipe as a print for just $24 from Lily & Val directly. For icing, I followed a basic icing recipe found here. These cookies are kind of perfectly sweet and buttery, where you realize you have had 5 and should probably stop so you don't die.

To make them you will need:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg
• 2 3/4 cup flour
• 2 tsp baking powder

To get started:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
2. Cream butter and sugar together until smooth. Add vanilla and egg and mix thoroughly.
3. In a separate bowl, mix flour and baking powder.
4. Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture and combine into a dough.
5. Roll out the dough with a floured rolling pin and cut into hearts.
6. Bake at 400 F for 7 minutes.

For the icing, mix together the following:

• 2 cups icing sugar
• 2 tbsp milk
• 2 tbsp corn syrup
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• food colouring

When they come out they are very soft, but harden up as they cool to a nice cookie consistency. You need to wait for them to cool before icing them. To ice them, I just dipped them into the icing, then let it set. Enjoy!